Turn service providers from being administrators: PM asks IAS

New Delhi, Apr 21 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked IAS officials to turn service providers from being administrators as people expected governments to ''deliver efficient public services or facilitate privatisation.'' ''Citizens are now expecting good service from governments as a matter of right. Governments are expected to deliver efficient public services or facilitate privatisation,'' Dr Singh told civil servants who had gathered at a function organised to mark the Civil Services Day.

Pointing out that civil servants could not view themselves as ''mere administrators'' in the face emerging challenges, the Prime Minister asked them to equip themselves to meet the situations arising from ''a phenominal explosion'' of civil society activities and knowledge, besides inequitable economic growth.

The UPA government had, at the same time, initiated steps to ''depoliticise'' appointments and transfers and offer them ''greater security of tenure'' to restore the ''prestige'' of the All India Services and inject a sense of pride in their professionalism. New procedures had been introduced for performance evaluations and promotions, he said.

Asking them to be alive to the winds of change sweeping the nation as a result of globalisation of the economy and people's increasing awareness of their (people's) rights and demand for greater transparency and accountability, the Prime Minister said the Civil Service had to ''reorient'' itself and be trained to deliver better services to people.

MORE UNI RB/SN VD RS1521